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Adolescent substance involvement use and abuse
1Family Nurse Practitioner Program, Department of Family Health Care Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, 2 Koret Way, Box 0606, San Francisco, CA 94143-0606, USA; Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, 3333 California Street, Suite 245, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-0503, USA.
Abstract:
Substance use in adolescence is common, but not all use indicates a substance use disorder. The primary care provider has an essential role in screening for substance involvement, assessing the level of substance use and its impact on function, and engaging in a brief intervention to encourage and support behavioral change related to substance use. This article summarizes the literature on adolescent vulnerability to substance use disorders and their impact on adolescent health and well-being. Practical concrete suggestions for approaches to screening, brief interventions, and referral to treatment provide a stepwise approach to adolescent substance use assessment and intervention.